FROM STOCKHOLM TO GOA
[From L to R] Cajsa, Theodor and Johannes Rohr.
PANAJI
They had been fully aware of their adoption from two orphanages in Goa in the 1980s, but three adoptive siblings based in Stockholm in Sweden never got the opportunity to return to visit Goa during these four decades. That is, until now.
In a bid to trace their roots and visit two orphanages in Goa, Cajsa Rohr (44) and her adoptive siblings, Johannes (41) and Theodor (36) undertook their first-ever visit to Goa.
The three siblings are now successfully employed in Stockholm. While Cajsa heads a unit dealing with statistics for the National Agency of Education in Stockholm, Johannes is a manager at a warehouse dealing with alcohol and beverages, and Theodor heads a unit at a system company within financial tech.
FROM GOA TO SWEDEN
Cajsa said their adoptive parents, Mikael and Katarina, unable to conceive their own children, decided to adopt children to start a family.
“Through friends, my parents became acquainted with a man from Goa, living in Sweden, who was involved in the very first adoption from Goa. This friend provided them with details of adoptions in Goa,” said Cajsa.
“My parents then contacted the Swedish Adoption Center, which collaborated with adoption organisations in India. After all permits and legal papers from the Swedish side were ready, they arrived in Goa in 1980. Our adoptive parents even stayed for a short while at their friend’s house in Goa and got to meet his acquaintances.”
Mikael and Katarina adopted Cajsa at 3 months in 1980 and Johannes at 6 months in 1983, from the then Obra de Proteccao a Mulher (OPM) in Merces, which is now in ruins. Theodor was adopted at 10 months from the Mother Theresa’s Home in Panaji.
LOVE FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS
All three siblings were full of praise and respect for their parents, who gave them love, affection, stability and a family.
“It was obvious that we looked different from our adoptive parents. They were always open about our past and hid nothing from us. Our dad was a professional photographer and each of us has an album of several pictures, and even video films, of our infancy at the orphanages in Goa,” said Cajsa.
“Our adoptive parents provided us with a great childhood and we have the best parents we could ever desire.”
Added Theodor: “Our parents even took time off when we were first brought to Sweden, to enable us adjust to our new lives, a new culture and a new place.”
THEIR VISIT TO GOA
Cajsa Rohr, her adoptive siblings, Johannes and Theodor, and her family along with Fr Maverick Fernandes (centre) outside the structure at Merces which was once an orphanage.
Cajsa said the three siblings had been discussing about a trip to Goa with their adoptive parents ever since they were children.
“My three sons are now in their teens, and I was keen to make them aware of their Goan heritage. My brothers were eager to join this trip as they were equally excited to see the place of their roots,” said Cajsa.
A seven-member group comprising Cajsa, her husband and their three sons, along with Johannes and Theodor, decided to visit Goa from December 17 to January 1.
“We prioritised our trip to ensure that we would spend time visiting the orphanages in Merces and Panaji, to reconnect with our roots and to assimilate all experiences and emotions at these two places, before visiting other parts of Goa,” said Theodor.
Added Johannes: “Our parents are elderly and were unable to join us in this trip, but they were pleased that we were undertaking this journey to Goa.”
The three siblings got in touch with Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes and directly with Mother Theresa’s home regarding their visit to Goa. At the time, Caritas Goa was managing the OPM in Merces (the structure was subsequently handed over to the government-run Provedoria and Caritas Goa moved its programme to Nachinola) and it was also the agency for international adoptions at the Mother Theresa’s Home in Panaji.
Fr Maverick was pleased to connect with the three adoptive siblings while they were in Goa.
EXPERIENCE IN GOA
While in Goa, Cajsa, Johannes and Theodor lost no time in proceeding to Merces and Panaji on December 19 to see the centres from where they were adopted.
“Even though I was three months old at the time of my adoption in 1980, I felt a strong connection to the home, even though it is in ruins now. My biological mother stayed at this home and even met my adoptive parents,” said Cajsa.
Added Johannes: “I’m amazed that the home in Merces is still existing after all these years.”
EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES
Johannes said they were filled with so many memories and experiences, that it would take time for all these emotions to sink in.
“It is difficult to explain the various emotions we have encountered during our stay in Goa. It will take time to assimilate all these experiences. Our visit to Goa was not only about the orphanages but to experience the Goan people and their culture. Goans have been very friendly and helpful. There are so many memories that we will take back to Stockholm,” said Theodor.
Added the three siblings: “It was also interesting to see how life could have been for us, had we not been adopted. We could well have been living here in Goa, and life would have surely been different for each of us. We are fortunate about the life we have in Sweden and are so happy for the opportunity to be adopted”.
